Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Dear Beatrice Fairfax," by Kenneth Fearing, is a satirical and incisive poem that critiques the manipulation of emotions and relationships in a society dominated by greed and deceit. Fearing directs his commentary to the fictional advice columnist Beatrice Fairfax, addressing her readers and their naive expectations of love and loyalty. The poem presents a scathing analysis of the false promises and moral corruption inherent in personal and professional relationships, reflecting the sociopolitical climate of the early 20th century.

The poem opens with a series of rhetorical questions that invoke well-known public figures of the time: "Is it true that Father Coughlin and Miss Aimee / Semple McPherson and General Hugh / Johnson and Mrs. Barbara Mdivani / and Mr. Samuel Insull and Miss Greta Garbo and Mr. Prince / Mike Romanoff?" These names represent a mix of religious, political, and entertainment personalities, each embodying different facets of influence, manipulation, and deception in American society. By lumping them together, Fearing suggests that these figures, despite their varying roles, all contribute to a culture of illusion and falsehood.

Fearing then shifts to address an unnamed "baby," using language reminiscent of popular love songs and advertisements: "Foolproof baby with that memorized smile, / burglarproof baby, fireproof baby with that rehearsed / appeal, / reconditioned, standardized, synchronized, amplified, best-by-test baby with those push-the-button tears." The use of repetitive adjectives like "foolproof," "burglarproof," and "fireproof" conveys a sense of artificial perfection, as if the "baby" is a mass-produced product rather than a person. This commodification is reinforced with terms like "reconditioned," "standardized," and "synchronized," suggesting that individuals have been molded to fit societal expectations of love and attractiveness.

The poem continues with an ironic description of the "bigtime sweetheart" who "worships you and you alone," declaring that he "lives for you, only you, he loves you, trusts you, needs you, respects you, gives / for you, fascinated, mad about you." This exaggerated devotion mocks the romantic clichés found in popular culture, revealing how superficial relationships can be. The comparison of this love to the relationship between an accountant and a trust, a banker and a judge, or a gunman and his needle suggests that love, like these professional relationships, is transactional and self-serving.

The sweetheart is "wrapped up in you like the accountant in the trust, like the banker trusts the judge, like the judge respects protection, like the gunman needs his needle, like the trust must give and give." The repetition of "like" reinforces the transactional nature of these relationships and exposes the web of corruption and exploitation in which they exist.

Fearing uses dark humor to describe the sweetheart's unwavering loyalty: "He's with you all the way from the top of the bottle to the / final alibi, / from the handshake to the hearse, from the hearse to / the casket, / to the handles on the casket, to the nails, to the hinges, to the satin, to the flowers, to the music, to the prayer, to the graveyard, to the tomb." The progression from "handshake to the hearse" and beyond reflects the sweetheart's absolute dedication, but the absurd specificity of "handles on the casket" and "nails" reveals the hollowness of this devotion, reducing it to a mere formality.

The poem's final lines deliver a stark warning: "But just the same, baby, and never forget, / it takes a neat, smart, fast, good, sweet doublecross to doublecross the gentleman who doublecrossed the / gentleman who doublecrossed / your doublecrossing, doublecrossing, doublecross friend." The repetition of "doublecross" emphasizes the pervasive deceit in relationships, suggesting that betrayal is the norm rather than the exception. The poem concludes with the idea that in a world where betrayal is commonplace, one must be cunning to outmaneuver others.

In "Dear Beatrice Fairfax," Kenneth Fearing employs satire and irony to critique the commodification of love and relationships. By using the language of advertisements and romantic clichés, he exposes the superficiality and corruption of a society where personal relationships are transactional and deception is a way of life. The poem ultimately serves as a powerful reminder of the need for genuine connections in a world dominated by greed and manipulation.

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